I live in the neighborhood, love a good bowl of ramen and was really looking forward to a great bowl. A few days after opening, a few friends met up for lunch, a visit and the big taste test. The usual Japanese Izakaya commotion greeted us as well as a very friendly and helpful server. Since it as a late lunch and not too busy, we didn't feel crowded. If the place had been full...we would have been squeezed together...tables way too crowded. We ordered some caramelized cauliflower and a broccoli tempura starter to split. The cauliflower tasted like any other cauliflower dish but the broccoli was good. Our server tried to explain the menu at the top of her lungs, but had to repeat herself constantly...the music was over the top loud, and not a particularly great selection. We couldn't hear ourselves think! We asked her to have it lowered, but she shouted that since they were a bar, they had to leave it turned up. Our ramen arrived..all fine, but we couldn't carry on a conversation. I can understand cranking up the music for happy hour or later evening, but not at 1:00 on a weekday. There are several ramen places in the hood that are much more conducive for enjoying a bowl, and I guess next time I get a craving for some sake and some loud sound, I'd go back to Jinya. If I want an enjoyable ramen meal with good conversation and some good background music...I'll head elsewhere.